Advent Addresses
During Advent Bishop Garry will deliver 4 addresses based on the traditional themes of Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell (the Four Last Things). There will be some questions that accompany each talk.
You may use these talks anyway you wish. You could watch them and have discussions as a small home group, as a family and also individually. Be Creative.
Address 1 – The Four Last Things – Death
Address 2 – The Four Last Things – Judgement
Address 3 – The Four Last Things – Heaven
Address 2 – The Four Last Things – Hell
Advent Activities – Creative Christmas
During the time of shutdown, many of us have had a chance to explore some new activities. We hope that this will continue, and we invite you to share with your friends across the diocese your response to Advent this year. We are therefore suggesting some family and individual activities relating to Advent and Christmas, and we hope you will photograph your creative efforts and send them to the Diocesan Centre or email your written responses to drshackell@bigpond.com
Some suggestions:
Hayden McKellar has designed a family activity using Lego Bricks.
https://app.box.com/s/m4oyy991lxf4y86bgsspxot21o7lqqtk
Keith Romanis has some suggestions for making and using a Jesse Tree:
https://app.box.com/s/poi6z308nyauo1eic6ek56gfacbr42r8
Other possibilities include-
- Arrange found objects, plants, flowers etc as a response to Sunday’s gospel,
- Sew patchwork, embroider, paint, work with wood as a response to the Sunday readings.
- Write a response – a short reflection, a Haiku or poem.
- Make a collage, using words and pictures.
- Do something for others
- Take flowers to someone lonely or going through a tough time
- Share some baking
- Contact someone you don’t usually see at Christmas
- Support an Anglicare Christmas project
- Share a favourite prayer or scripture verse
- Send someone a link to Bishop Garry’s addresses
Advent Online
The Ministry Development Committee commends to you ABM’s:
SONGS FROM A STRANGE LAND (AN AUSTRALIAN ADVENT CALENDAR)
A new ABM App from Celia Kemp who wrote Into the Desert and Deep calls to Deep.
Scripture readings, quotes, photographs, poems, cartoons and songs take you through Advent and Incarnation with a particular emphasis on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christianity, the Australian landscape and Creation theology.
Download link for iPhone and iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/songs-from-a-strange-land/id1442050436
Download link for Android devices: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.abm.strangeland
Professional Standards
1800 377 842 [1800 DPS VIC].
A Director of Professional Standards has been appointed to respond to all complaints of abuse by clergy and Church workers.
Episcopal Standards
1800 997 747.
Episcopal Standards complaints may be made against the Bishop of a Diocese. This is different to a Professional Standards complaint.